Keep your hands to yourself bro

Okay, so let's talk about something I've been noticing a lot lately in VRChat: personal space. It feels like ever since the influx of new questies, managing my virtual bubble has become a daily challenge. I mean, we're all here to have fun and connect, but sometimes it feels like people are just straight-up invading everyone's personal space without a second thought. It's not always malicious, especially with new players who might not understand the unspoken rules of VRChat etiquette. But whether it's someone standing so close you can't see anything, repeatedly poking you, or even following you around, it can really ruin the experience. I remember this one time, I was just chilling in a public world, trying to talk to a friend, and this new user just kept teleporting directly onto my avatar. It was so jarring and uncomfortable! So, how do we deal with this without coming across as rude ourselves? Here are some of my go-to strategies that have really helped me reclaim my VRChat personal space: Communicate Clearly (and Politely): Sometimes a simple, "Hey, could you give me a little space, please?" or "I prefer a bit more room" works wonders. Most people, especially new questies, will understand and adjust. If they don't, it might be time for step two. Use VRChat's Built-in Tools: This is a lifesaver! Local Mute/Block: If someone is being persistently intrusive, you can quickly local mute them to stop hearing them, or block them entirely. Blocking removes their avatar from your view, making them disappear for you. This is a great option if communication fails or if they're being intentionally annoying. User Safety Settings: You can adjust avatar visibility for different trust ranks. If a new questie's avatar is causing issues (like being too big or poorly optimized), you can set it to only show their "fall-back" avatar, or even hide it completely for untrusted users. "Go Invisible" or "Appear Offline": If you're just looking for some quiet time and want to avoid interaction altogether, setting your status to invisible can help. Find a New Instance/World: If a particular instance is just too crowded or full of people who aren't respecting boundaries, don't be afraid to hop to a new one. There are always other worlds and instances to explore! Understand Why It Happens: A lot of new questies, especially those new to VR, might not have developed a sense of virtual personal space yet. They might be excited, clumsy with controls, or just unaware of how close they appear to others. A little patience can go a long way, but your comfort comes first. Set Up a Private Instance: If you're with friends and want guaranteed peace, create a private instance. This way, you control who comes in and can enjoy your time without interruptions. Remember, VRChat is meant to be an enjoyable experience for everyone. Don't feel bad about protecting your personal space. It's your virtual world, too! By using these tips, I've found I can navigate public instances much more comfortably and still have amazing interactions without feeling overwhelmed by an influx of new questies invading my personal space.